Timescale stands with the Black community
Timescale stands with the Black community. Timescale stands against racism and hate.
To all of our community members and friends of Timescale around the world, I wanted to take a moment to share the message I shared with the Timescale team earlier this week. While we're not perfect, this message gets to the core of who I aim to be as a leader and who we aim to be as a team and a company: diverse, inclusive, courageous, and empathetic.
I’m sharing this message publicly because it’s important that the Black community knows they are not alone. We are allies in this fight. We see you, we share your pain, and we will always be here for you.
Here is the message I shared with the Timescale team earlier this week:
Team,
This past week has been really hard for us here in the US. It has shone a bright spotlight on the racial violence and police brutality unjustly targeted at the Black community in this country.
The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many other victims of racial violence and police brutality, are tragic and unacceptable. They make me equally very sad and very angry. The violent police responses to peaceful protests, in particular in our own NYC, make me angrier. Hearing first-hand from Timescale employees of their own experience with racial profiling is saddening and infuriating.
But I also have hope for the future. People of all races across all 50 states (and in other countries) are rising up to demand change. And some police departments have responded with compassion, instead of violence.
It can be hard for disenfranchised communities to speak up, or to be heard when they do speak up, especially in moments like these. The responsibility to speak up and amplify their voices then lies with the rest of us.
So, let me be clear: Timescale stands with the Black community. Timescale stands against racism and hate.
I recognize that this may be a challenging time for some of you. If you feel overwhelmed or powerless, please feel free to reach out to someone else on the team. We are here for you. If you find yourself in a position of privilege, please consider how you can use that privilege to benefit those who do not have it.
If you need to take time for mental health, or to protest, or do whatever you feel you need to do, please take it. If you need to speak with someone, I am available, as are Mike [my co-founder and CTO] and Mel [our Head of People].
For anyone looking to learn more or find ways to be an agent of positive change, I’ll post some resources in this thread. I welcome others to post resources that they have found helpful as well. Also, I have been requested to ask this: if you are looking to learn, please do not start by asking your Black friends or colleagues to educate you. Please start by doing your own work to educate yourself (for example, by reading some of the posts that will be shared in this thread).
We are also exploring ways Timescale can be an agent of positive change against racism, bigotry, and injustice. If anyone has ideas or suggestions, please let me know.
May love and compassion win over hate and violence.
In my follow-up, I shared the following resources with our team:
- Barack Obama’s How to Make This Moment the Turning Point for Real Change
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Don’t Understand the Protests?
- 9 Ways to Help Black Lives Matter
- 75 Things White People Can do for Racial Justice
- Guide to Allyship
- ‘Between the World And Me’ by Ta’Nehisi Coates
- ‘Sister Outsider’ by Audre Lorde
- ‘The Fire Next Time’ by James Baldwin
- The NY Times 1619 Project that explores slavery and capitalism
- The Netflix documentary 13th by Ava DuVernay
- Trevor Noah’s Daily Social Distancing Show
- John Boyega’s speech in London
Within Timescale, my leadership team and I have made it clear that employees have our support during this time, be it emotionally, time off to reflect or recharge, donate to related causes, or join demonstrations.
Finally, there is no place for hate or racism in our society. This has to stop, and until it does we all have to work harder to bring about positive change.
Ajay
CEO, Timescale
